helovestrains

We were on the Ruby Princess on 21 - 28 May 2024.  We entered Canada Place and followed the signage (Ruby was the only ship departing that day) with our luggage.  We dropped off our luggage before we passed through security as we made our way to the ship.  Embarkation went very smooth.  We did not have to drop off our luggage in the underground parking garage. 

Currently are on the Ruby Princess.  I found a duck, which l will give to my 8 year old granddaughter when we return home.  When we cruised with her last year she had fun looking for ducks and she is very excited when we return from a cruise and give her a duck.  We don't need to buy any gifts she is content with a duck (lol).

Following as we board the Ruby on May 21st.  Good to hear that you are happy with the service and the crew.

How far out can MDR reservations been accepted.  I am unable to book for February 2025.  I'm not anxious at all--lol.

3 hours ago, birdiebill said:

I am currently onboard Enchanted Princess with iPhone. Updated new app. Does not show booked future cruises. When I attempt to add them it states booking number not found. Perhaps while on a cruise I can’t access future ones. But in two days we disembark.  Will see if all future cruises show up then

I am also on this cruise.  I can see my cruise in May 2024 but not my cruise in February 2025.  The app will not allow access to my May cruise while on board.   

My loyalty level is showing correctly after this update.  My current and next saling are showing, but the following sailing isn't.   The app seems to be getting better (at least for me).

My six month expiry date was 03 Sep and the cruise returned 02 Sep.  Didn't have any problems.  I just went with the six month ruling.

Had a very similar experience as paf225.  Made my appointment online with Service Canada for 01 November, in and out very quickly.  Old passport received by mail 09 November and new passport received 15 November.   Both new and old passport were delivered to my community mailbox, with both packages saying signature required.  I didn’t sign for either. 

14 hours ago, Globaliser said:

 

If you follow those links, which I included for the sake of detail that's as accurate as currently possible, the plan for 2 September (subject to National Rail confirmation) is that Avanti will not run to Glasgow, but LNER will run to Edinburgh.

 

That seemed to me to be important to the OP, who does still have a decent chance of getting to Glasgow by train that day, although unfortunately not on their booked route.

Looks like we will have a couple more changes to contend with, but we will get from Southampton to Glasgow on the 02 September which is the goal.  Thanks for all the great info you have provided.

On 8/21/2023 at 10:43 AM, villauk said:

Still no email until we boarded when we received the condescending upgrade letter.

 

As expected, many people are complaining at GS and sending official notifications via the front staff to the powers that be, as they were unaware of the changes until they boarded. Feel really sorry for the staff who were unable to say exactly how they felt about the awful predicament they have been left in. They knew it was coming but were obviously having to deal with the fallout - Princess could have made things so much easier for those frontline staff if they’d have even notified pax what would be happening - shameful!

Hi, we are on  this cruise with you.  We have not received anything from Princess regarding the changes.  We had purchased the plus package prior to December  2022 and have not/are not upgrading.

11 hours ago, Globaliser said:

 

FWIW, ASLEF has now announced a strike for Friday 1 September, and an overtime ban on Saturday 2 September. The affected TOCs will publish details of their plans later; but at a guess this will mean that on Saturday 2 September there will be disruption in the morning due to trains being out of position (Friday 1 September may see very few if any trains operated by the affected TOCs), and a reduced service on mainline routes because of a combination of RMT's strike and ASLEF's overtime ban. So my guess remains that there's a good chance that you'll get from Southampton to Glasgow at some stage that day.

Thank you for the update.

7 hours ago, Globaliser said:

 

There should be more specific advice by the day of travel.

 

What I recall on the strike day on which I travelled was basically along the lines of: If your booked train operates, you can/should take it. If your booked train doesn't operate, you can take any other train. Also, if you miss your onward booked train because of strike disruption on an earlier part of the journey, you can use your existing ticket to take any other train (and this is a standard provision anyway for a missed connection on a through ticket that's not your fault).

 

The train operating company that I was on also allowed you to make a standalone seat reservation on another train if you wished to have a reserved seat and you couldn't travel on your original train. But there were actually plenty of free seats anyway.

 

My vague impression was that on a strike day, anything goes so far as using tickets on other trains was concerned. But it's safer to know exactly what your TOC actually advises.

Thank you.   I appreciate your comments. 

7 hours ago, Cotswold Eagle said:

I think you are describing Advance fares, valid only on a particular service. In that case, if the train doesn't run, the ticket can be used on another service, you can get a refund, or in some circumstances travel another day. See the FAQs on National Rail's Industrial Action Page.

Yes, I believe it is Advance fare.  Thank you so much for your response. 

We have pre-purchased tickets on SWR for SOU to LON at a specified time without reserved seating and then on Avanti for EUS to GLW at a specified time with reserved seating.  If the number of trains are reduced how would travel work.  Would we still be able to use our current tickets?  Am I just getting ahead of myself?  Thanks again.

2 hours ago, Globaliser said:

 

I wouldn't put any money on the strike not going ahead. But that's not the full story.

 

The announced strike is by a union called the RMT. Recently, strikes by this union have seldom been enough to bring trains to a complete halt on important main lines like London <-> Glasgow and London <-> Edinburgh. I have an experience similar to fruitmachine's when I've been travelling London <--> Newcastle: the trains that ran were pleasantly quiet, even though I had to adjust my journey times to get onto a train that did run.

 

If a union called ASLEF strikes, then trains operated by the relevant companies do tend to come to a complete halt. Further strikes for 2 September could be announced any time up to 2 weeks before that date. So it's not yet possible to be fully confident about this - but if there is no ASLEF strike on 2 September, then I would personally be reasonably comfortable that I would be able to get to Glasgow at some time on that day.

Hopefully ASLEF won't announce a strike and we will be able to keep our current travel plans.  We will wait until 26 Aug 23 and revisit the train situation.  Thank you for the information you provided.

8 hours ago, fruitmachine said:

I can provide some information on an analogous route - London to Edinburgh - where we and other family members have travelled that journey on strike days.

 

In our case the number of services was limited; probably hourly leaving London (and only between about 8am and 12 noon or 1pm) so far less than the usual ~30 trains a day.  But the rail company did such a good job of discouraging passengers, those that ran were much quieter that normal.

 

If you're holding off changing your travel plans, check this link on and immediately after the next strike date of 26 August to see what actually ran: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:GLC/from/gb-nr:EUS/2023-08-26/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

Thanks so much for your response.  We will check the link on/after the 26th.

Thanks.  From what I see on the travel summary, we will need to pay if we want to go to Alfredo's. (The app has Alfredo's included.) I don't think we will pay for the newer Princess Plus.

In the past when strike action has been announced, is it more likely than not that it will happen?  The website does indicate that if a strike does happen we will receive a refund.  Not sure if we should buy airline tickets now or wait.

We cruise out of Southampton 19 Aug - 02 Sep 23.  Upon disembarkation we have train tickets to Glasgow.   On the national rail site is states that there could be a travel disruption on the London to Glasgow portion and may not run.  The site says to check back closer to 02 Sep 23.  Any advice on what we should do?  Thanks.

5 hours ago, villauk said:

 

You need to go to your online account and look at your Travel Summary. It’s not what is on the ‘onboard’ listing for your sailing as that includes everything and states ’Purchased’,as per my example below, when in fact that isn’t the case (there’s a line underneath saying that you may not be entitled to everything on that list which some pax aren’t noticing - only the Travel Summary states what you personally will receive on your sailing).

Thank you.  The travel summary and its location had escaped me.  Now I know what my PP entitlements are.

We have cruises booked for this month, February and May 2024 each with the plus package although the plus packages were different prices.  I believe I was able, at one time, to look at my booking and see what was included.   I can't find this now.  Does anyone know where I can find this information?  Thanks.

We have booked premium economy seats on AC Rouge for our 6 hour flight in August.   Hoping the seats are worth the extra cost.  Either way, we'll be on vacation and that works for me.

Where on the app do you see the  QR code?  Thanks 

JB, thanks for your reply.  I hadn't considered the conversion rate.  

I am looking at travelling by train from Southampton to Glasgow on Saturday 02 September (tickets are unavailable as of yet).  I have been looking at the website thetrainline.com  Prices are quoted in Canadian dollars so I should be able to purchase through this site in Canadian dollars which I am thinking is a plus.  Is this site reliable?  Or should I use another site to purchase tickets when available.   Should I be looking at standard or first class tickets?  Any advice will be appreciated.  Thanks